Cunningham's skinks show low genetic connectivity and signatures of divergent selection across its distribution
Abstract Establishing corridors of connecting habitat has become a mainstay conservation strategy to maintain gene flow and facilitate climate‐driven range shifts. Yet, little attention has been given to ascertaining the extent to which corridors will benefit philopatric species, which might exhibit...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2017-01-01
|
| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.2627 |
| _version_ | 1797742113318764544 |
|---|---|
| author | Benjamin Y. Ofori Linda J. Beaumont Adam J. Stow |
| author_facet | Benjamin Y. Ofori Linda J. Beaumont Adam J. Stow |
| author_sort | Benjamin Y. Ofori |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Establishing corridors of connecting habitat has become a mainstay conservation strategy to maintain gene flow and facilitate climate‐driven range shifts. Yet, little attention has been given to ascertaining the extent to which corridors will benefit philopatric species, which might exhibit localized adaptation. Measures of genetic connectivity and adaptive genetic variation across species’ ranges can help fill this knowledge gap. Here, we characterized the spatial genetic structure of Cunningham's skink (Egernia cunninghami), a philopatric species distributed along Australia's Great Dividing Range, and assessed evidence of localized adaptation. Analysis of 4,274 SNPs from 94 individuals sampled at four localities spanning 500 km and 4° of latitude revealed strong genetic structuring at neutral loci (mean FST ± SD = 0.603 ± 0.237) among the localities. Putatively neutral SNPs and those under divergent selection yielded contrasting spatial patterns, with the latter identifying two genetically distinct clusters. Given low genetic connectivity of the four localities, we suggest that the natural movement rate of this species is insufficient to keep pace with spatial shifts to its climate envelope, irrespective of habitat availability. In addition, our finding of localized adaptation highlights the risk of outbreeding depression should the translocation of individuals be adopted as a conservation management strategy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T14:36:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-87e447e93d7847d8b141fae8cc818a3c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T14:36:19Z |
| publishDate | 2017-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-87e447e93d7847d8b141fae8cc818a3c2023-08-17T06:04:36ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582017-01-0171485710.1002/ece3.2627Cunningham's skinks show low genetic connectivity and signatures of divergent selection across its distributionBenjamin Y. Ofori0Linda J. Beaumont1Adam J. Stow2Department of Biological Sciences Macquarie University North Ryde Macquarie Park NSW AustraliaDepartment of Biological Sciences Macquarie University North Ryde Macquarie Park NSW AustraliaDepartment of Biological Sciences Macquarie University North Ryde Macquarie Park NSW AustraliaAbstract Establishing corridors of connecting habitat has become a mainstay conservation strategy to maintain gene flow and facilitate climate‐driven range shifts. Yet, little attention has been given to ascertaining the extent to which corridors will benefit philopatric species, which might exhibit localized adaptation. Measures of genetic connectivity and adaptive genetic variation across species’ ranges can help fill this knowledge gap. Here, we characterized the spatial genetic structure of Cunningham's skink (Egernia cunninghami), a philopatric species distributed along Australia's Great Dividing Range, and assessed evidence of localized adaptation. Analysis of 4,274 SNPs from 94 individuals sampled at four localities spanning 500 km and 4° of latitude revealed strong genetic structuring at neutral loci (mean FST ± SD = 0.603 ± 0.237) among the localities. Putatively neutral SNPs and those under divergent selection yielded contrasting spatial patterns, with the latter identifying two genetically distinct clusters. Given low genetic connectivity of the four localities, we suggest that the natural movement rate of this species is insufficient to keep pace with spatial shifts to its climate envelope, irrespective of habitat availability. In addition, our finding of localized adaptation highlights the risk of outbreeding depression should the translocation of individuals be adopted as a conservation management strategy.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.2627adaptive genetic variationconservation geneticsEgernia cunninghamilocal adaptationnext‐generation sequencingsingle nucleotide polymorphisms |
| spellingShingle | Benjamin Y. Ofori Linda J. Beaumont Adam J. Stow Cunningham's skinks show low genetic connectivity and signatures of divergent selection across its distribution Ecology and Evolution adaptive genetic variation conservation genetics Egernia cunninghami local adaptation next‐generation sequencing single nucleotide polymorphisms |
| title | Cunningham's skinks show low genetic connectivity and signatures of divergent selection across its distribution |
| title_full | Cunningham's skinks show low genetic connectivity and signatures of divergent selection across its distribution |
| title_fullStr | Cunningham's skinks show low genetic connectivity and signatures of divergent selection across its distribution |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cunningham's skinks show low genetic connectivity and signatures of divergent selection across its distribution |
| title_short | Cunningham's skinks show low genetic connectivity and signatures of divergent selection across its distribution |
| title_sort | cunningham s skinks show low genetic connectivity and signatures of divergent selection across its distribution |
| topic | adaptive genetic variation conservation genetics Egernia cunninghami local adaptation next‐generation sequencing single nucleotide polymorphisms |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.2627 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT benjaminyofori cunninghamsskinksshowlowgeneticconnectivityandsignaturesofdivergentselectionacrossitsdistribution AT lindajbeaumont cunninghamsskinksshowlowgeneticconnectivityandsignaturesofdivergentselectionacrossitsdistribution AT adamjstow cunninghamsskinksshowlowgeneticconnectivityandsignaturesofdivergentselectionacrossitsdistribution |